“He was always willing to step up to the plate and take up leadership roles,” Tavares said of Rebello, who retired as Kingston police chief 17 months ago.

Before retiring, Rebello was president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

Rebello died Sunday morning when his motorcycle was struck by a car that crossed into oncoming traffic on Route 14 in Woodbury, Vermont.

Vermont State Police Trooper Jimmy Wilborn said Rebello was in a group of four motorcyclists riding south. At about 9:10 a.m., a 1996 Subaru Legacy crossed the road’s center line and struck two of the four motorcycles.

Rebello, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

The driver of the car, Frank Sargent, 57, of Woodbury, was injured in the accident. Also seriously injured was former Hudson, Mass., police chief Richard Braga, 57, of Hudson, Massachusetts, one of the motorcyclists. The other two riders were able to avoid the car.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Vermont State Police, and no arrests had been made or citations issued as of Sunday night. The state police crash reconstruction team is assisting in the investigation.

Kingston police Sgt. Susan Munford announced Rebello’s death in a Facebook posting.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Kathy, and children, Devin and Michael. Rest easy Chief,” she wrote.

Many replied with comments expressing their sympathy to the family and the police department.

Rebello retired after 33 years as a police officer. He was Kingston’s chief for eight years before he retired. His career included a total of 15 years as police chief in Stow, Monson and Shutesbury.

Even after he retired, Rebello remained active in several local police chief associations, Tavares said.

He also said Rebello was a visionary, one of the first chiefs to sign on to the Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force.

Rebello was well-respected by his peers statewide.

“He was just a wonderful human being – a great leader, a great police officer, a cop’s cop.” Tavares said. “He will be missed by many.”

In a 2012 interview, Rebello said he hoped the changes he made in the department made it more responsive to community needs.

During the same interview, Rebello said he planned to spend more time riding his 1999 Police Edition Harley-Davidson Road King.

Rebello leaves his wife, Kathy, and two children, Devin and Michael.

Braga began a 32-year career with the Hudson Police Dept. in 1980 and retired two years ago after 14 years as chief.